Register for packages



(No Model.)

J. R. FLETCHER. REGISTER FOR PACKAGES.

No. 498,254. Patented May 30,1893.

five/wagon %%M g p UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN R. FLETCHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

REGISTER FOR PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 498,254, dated. May 30, 1893.

Application filed April 20,1892. Serial No. 429,911- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic registers and has for its object to provide registering devices whereby the number of objects passing along a given way may be registered, as for example, the number of cakes of ice passing in an ice factory from the molds to the storage. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the ice chute with the electric registering apparatus shown partially diagramatically associated therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in cross section. Fig. 3 is a detail of the contact. Fig. 4 is a detail of a mechanical register.

The same or like parts are indicated by the same letter in all figures.

A is an ice trough which may be inclined to permit the cakes of ice to pass. B B are cakes of ice therein. O O are hangers which may be secured near such trough to the Wall D. Transversely journaled in the hangers are the shafts F F with the drum G thereon.

K is a chain secured at one end to the drum G and fastened at the other end to the bolt L which passes through the guides on the fixed block M and carries at its upper end the movable block N and is provided with the helical spring 0 secured so as to tend to pull the bolt upward.

P P are the wires of a circuit one end of which is the block M and the other terminal is the insulated contact spring R on the fixed block M through which the bolt L passes. This circuit may include the battery S, bell'l and register U.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: Where objects such as cakes of ice are successively passed through or along a trough or Way it is often desirable either to keep a register or record of the numberof objects or cakes passing or to indicate or give an alarm as such cakes pass, or to do both. These objects are accomplished by devices such as suggested as well as by the particular construction described and illustrated in my specification and drawings. As the cake of ice passes along it strikes the bail or downwardly projecting portion on the shaft and forces it along in front thus moving it to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1; but this rotates the drum in the same direction and tends to wind up the cord or rope or chain thereon. By so doing the bolt L is drawn downwardly against the action of the spring 0 and the moving metallic plate N is so disposed with regard to the contact point or spring R'that such motion of the bolt will bring the block down upon the contact part and thus close the local circuit through the conductors P P. This local circuit having a battery will energize the bell and thus give a signal to indicate that one block has passed, while the register U will by such current be caused to register or indicate one block as having passed. hen the object passes, the weight of the parts and the force of the spring O co-act to restore the parts to their proper positions.

It will be easily seen that many modifications can be made and that it is not necessary in every instance to use all of the features here pointed out. The plate N when drawn down against the insulated piece R completes the circuit, since the plate is secured to one end of the circuit and the frame with which the part N is associated is secured to the other.

I claim- 1. The combination of a path or chute along which objects to be registered pass, with a drum thereabove, a part projecting from the drum into the path of such objects, a chain adapted to be wound upon the drum, an electric circuit containing a register, and a circuit closer controlled by such chain.

2. In a package register, the combination of a path or chute along which the objects to be registered pass, with a drum thereabove, a part projecting from the drum into the path of such objects, a connection from the drum to an electric circuit closer, an electric circuit containing a register adapted to be opened or closed by the operation of such circuit closer, and a spring to normally keep the part projecting from the drum in the path of the object.

JOHN R. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

WALTER J. GUNTHORP, MARION E. MOORE. 

